Erin Michelle Schmidt, 40, of Linton, ND, was called home to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 28, 2022 at Methodist Hospital, Rochester, MN.  A celebration of Life will be held at 10:00am on Friday, July 8, 2022 at Peace Lutheran Church, Linton.  There will be a prayer service on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 7:00pm at the church.  Burial will take place at the Linton Cemetery.

Erin Michelle was born August 31, 1981 in Brookings, SD to parents Tammy and Wayne Cramer. She was the oldest of six children in a very loving family. She attended schools in Aberdeen, Mitchell, and Huron, SD, before graduating from Huron High School in 2000. Erin was baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ferney, SD and she was a confirmed member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Huron, SD.

After high school, Erin attended college at Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN, majoring in elementary education. While attending college Erin met Daniel Hovland; they were married on June 28, 2003 and welcomed their beautiful daughter Laura into their lives. Sadly, Dan passed away in 2005.

As a single mother, Erin continued with her education and graduated from MSUM with her elementary education degree. After college Erin worked at Early Years Childcare where her skills and talents working with young children were immediately noted.

Erin and Laura first met Erik Schmidt on a blind date to go bowling. Their first dinner date was that same evening at Chuck E. Cheese…Laura's choice. Erik introduced Erin and Laura to the outdoors and his beloved hunting partner Annie, to whom Laura was immediately smitten. Erik will tell you Erin introduced him to a new world of social fun with a young girl and lots of family!

On September 7, 2013, Erin & Erik were married in Moorhead, MN. Erin & Laura moved to Linton, ND where Erik was stationed. Ironically Linton was well-known to Erin & Laura as Dan's aunt & uncle, June & Spencer Larson live there and the Hovlands were annual Thanksgiving guests at their home. It was one of many God-winks in Erin's blessed life.

Erin was welcomed into the Linton community with open arms. She joined the Linton School District as a Title 1 educator; staff & students loved her! As an educator, she was always a cheerleader of the students; when they struggled with their work, her response was "I know you can do this". Erin also loved working with the summer educational program where her student skills simply shone, bright as a summer sun.

Erin & Erik's family quickly grew and Laura became a wonderful big sister to Jill & Heidi. Erin was a wonderful, loving mother. Her love of and patience with children served her well in her role as mom, and her daughters relished that special love. Days were filled with fun & laughter, trips to the pool, zoo, or park. The girls all enjoyed shopping trips with mom; she always had an eye for bargains. But the most special time of day was reading stories before bedtime; mother-daughter snuggles were the best!

The family are members of Peace Lutheran Church where Erin was active in church activities. Erin had a very deep faith in God and lived her faith in her daily life. She also shared that faith through their education program and serving on the church council helping lead the church on their mission of faith.

In addition to traveling to visit family and friends, Erin loved to read, curling up with a good book, enjoying quiet hours to herself or watching her Hallmark channel Christmas movies. She was also a great cook and a phenomenal baker! Her daughters loved helping their mom in the kitchen, often one on each side as they made their tasty treats for dad and visitors.

Erin & Erik's family was surprised to learn they were expecting another child in October 2022. Erin stated from the start she was sure the baby was a boy because he was "kicking my butt!" An ultrasound did indeed show the baby was a boy, and so the excitement quickly grew! Sadly, it wasn't the baby that was hurting Erin, but rather undiagnosed cancer.

Erin was flown to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN on June 26 where their baby boy James Lloyd was delivered in order to try and save Erin's life. Erin passed away on June 28, never having the chance to hold her newborn baby boy. James Lloyd continues to fight for his life at Mayo, with a strong faith support from family and friends.

Erin enjoyed being part of three families, and is survived by many family members, including her husband Erik and children Laura, Jill, Heidi and James; parents Tammy & Wayne, Huron, SD; sisters Amy (Darren) Thorsteinson, Detroit Lakes, MN; Anna (Beau) Fraser, Rapid City, SD and brothers John (Kyleigh), Brookings, SD; Mark (Robin), Georgetown, TX; and Paul, Yankton, SD. Her Schmidt family includes her in-laws Suzanne and Brad, West Fargo, ND; brother-in-law John (Laura), West Fargo, ND and sister-in-law Sarah (Chris), Grap, Richfield, MN. Her Hovland family include her in-laws Anita & Carl, Buffalo, ND; brother-in-law Paul (Marie), Buffalo, ND, and sister-in-law Bekah (Ryan) Lee, Casselton, ND. With such a family network, Erin had many, many nieces and nephews. Erin is also survived by her grandparents Marlene Cramer (Rapid City, SD) and Muriel Pigors (Aberdeen, SD), Erik's grandparents Lenora (Schmidt) & Joe Glasser; and many aunts & uncles in all the three families.

Erin joins in heaven Daniel, and her grandfather's Lloyd Cramer and Lloyd Pigors, and Erik's grandparents Emma & Ervin Swezey, and James 'Jim' Schmidt.

"If there comes a day we can't be together, keep me in your heart - I'll stay there forever"